Making Freedom: Maine's African American History

Primary Source Maine's first program of 2008, "Making Freedom: Maine's African American History," concluded on February 11 at Portland High School. Plans for offering a program on African American history for educators in the Pine Tree State began after several Maine teachers and Primary Source Maine staff member Amy Stevens took part in a week-long study tour of African American history in New England and New York, offered by Primary Source in April 2007.

Building upon Primary Source's Making Freedom sourcebooks, as well as the recently published Maine's Visible Black History by Gerald E. Talbot and H. H. Price, the program developed into a five-part late afternoon seminar series boasting a variety of local scholars and resources, from a workshop on mapping Maine's underground railroad using GIS technology to a panel discussion about the state's African refugees.

"We were excited to offer a new program about an important part of Maine's history that is often overlooked," says Amy Stevens who, with the assistance of Primary Source co-founder Anna Roelofs, organized the "Making Freedom" series. "African Americans have been a vibrant and crucial part of Maine's population for more than four hundred years, and there is a wealth of information and local resources available for educators looking to bring more African American history and culture into their classrooms."

Among the program's highlights were a visit from Gerald Talbot, co-author of Maine's Visible Black History and the state's first African American legislator, who vividly recounted his participation in the 1963 Civil Rights march in Washington, D.C. Teachers also attended an event at the University of Southern Maine where they learned about the tragic story of Malaga Island, whose poor black and white residents were forcibly removed by officials in neighboring Phippsburg in 1912 when the town sought to turn the island into a tourist destination. Scholars discussed the historical and archaeological work now being done to document the families' stories, and Bath Middle School students showed a documentary video and accompanying website they developed entitled "Malaga Island: Maine's Embarrassing Legacy."

During the Malaga event, Portland NAACP president Rachel Talbot Ross acknowledged the role of educators in bringing Maine's diverse history to students. "Making Freedom" participant Cinda Joyce echoed these sentiments: "I think our group can be instrumental in helping to make Maine's African-American history a part of every child's experience in school. Thank you for putting together such a rich and unique program...for thinking of ways we can continue to expand the Primary Source experience."